Well reamer construction



Nov. 8, 1932. l A. E. CARLSON LSSEJSQ WELL REAMER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed July 24, 1931 C E `5 ly\ a @f2- "Ki 44\ l 7/ 32x 34 50) 55 53 55\ v 3f i@ 47 52 UR 3% 54 5.5 37 5 7/ 'l n Z f 2 55 i A d 5f i 3- s i i f Original application led July 24, 1931,

Patented Nov. 8,l 1932 UNITED STATES ANTHONY EL CARLSON, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA WELL BEAMER CONSTRUCTION This invention is a division of the subject matter disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 552,813, iled July 24, 1931, for rock drilling core bit.

My invention relates to tools for forming wells, and relates particularly to a tool adapted toenlar'ge the bore of a well, such tool being especially adapted for use with rotary well drilling equipment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a roller type reaming tool which may be placed at any desired point in a string of drill pipe, this reaming tool having a central passage therethrough for carrying drilling Huid, so that such drilling Huid may be conducted to the zone in which the drilling operation is being performed.

A principal feature of my invention `relates to simplification of and consequently reduction of the cost of manufacture of roller type well reaming devices. In well reamer construction of this character, it is customary to mount the roller type reaming cutters in pockets formed inthe reamer body. These pockets may be readily molded in cast bodies,

'but where the reamer body is made from forged steel the forming of the pockets requires the expenditure of a considerable amount of time and labor. My invention has for one of its objects to reduce the expense of forming suchpockets in a reamer body.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a simple and rugged reamer device in which the bearing pinsk and the roller type pcutters may be quickly and readily replaced,

the reamer structure also providing a slmple means for preventing rotation of the bearing pins or cutter shafts.

Further objects and advantages of the inventionowill be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only, y

Fig. 1 is a partly sectioned elevational view of a drilling tool equipped with the preferred form of mynew reamer structure.

Fig; 2 is a cross section on a plane represented by the line 2 2 of 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section on a. plane repre sented by the-line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 of thedrawing I show my well Serial No. 552,818. Divided and'thia application filed January 22,

1932. Serial No. 588,056.

reamer A connecting a core bit B to a drill collar C situated at the lower end of a string of drill pipe, therebyU disclosing a manner in which the reamer may be employed to secure together two parts of a rotary drilling 'device and thereby be situated in a position to perform' its intended function of enlarge ing the previously formed bore of a well.

The `core bit B which forms the subject matter of my above noted copending application includes annular bodies 10 and 11 which' are secured together inp overlapping relationship by locking screws 12. The lower body 11 carries a complement of drilling cutters12a so placed as to form a well bore 13 and a central core 14. The upper body 10 of the bit B has an upwardly extending annular wall or pin 15 equipped with inter-ual threads 16 and external-:threads 17, there being a core receiver 18 of tubular form screwed into the threads 16 and extending upwardly through the reamer A and vwithin 'the drill collar C. As further shown in Fig. 1, a core catcher 2O is, held within the body 10 in position to engage the core 14.

The reamer A includes a cylindrical body 25 having a bore 26, a downwardly extending box or annular wall 27 internally threaded at 28 to lit the threads 17 of the body 10, and an upwardly extending annular wall or pin 30 externally threadedat 31 and internally counterbored and threaded at 32. On the upper end of the body\.25 a cap 33 is secured, such cap consisting of a. lower conical portion 34 and a cylindrical portion 35 extending upwardly therefrom. The lower end of the cap 33 is of a diameter nearly as large as the diameter of the upper end of the cylindrical member 25 and provides a radial face 36 which rests against a radial shoulder 41 of a tube 42 which is disposed within the bore 26 of the member 25. The upper end of the tube 42 is provided with an externally threaded head 43 which is screwed into the threaded counterboie `32 at the upper end of the pin of the member 25, there being notches 44 in the head 43 for engagement of a wrench whereby to rotate the tube 42 in the placing or removal of the same. The tube 42 is loctked against upward movement, when the cap 33 is in place by. a shoulder l46 formed at the upper end of the counterbore 38 within the cap 33, such shoulder 46 extending inwardly over the upper end of the head 43.

Through the cylindrical wall of the member 25 radial openings 47 are cut, these radial openings being of vertically elongated rectangular cross section and being separated by vertical bars 48 which connect between the upper and lower ends of the member 25 and provide ample metal for transmitting from one end to the other of the member 25 the forces utilized and encountered in the use ofthe reamer in a drilling string of a rotary system. The openings 47 ,may be cut out by use of a mechanically guided oxygen cutting blast such as employed in the oxyacetylene method of metal cutting; or if the metal is cut from the openings 47 by use of a hand-manipulated Oxy-acetylene cutting torch, the side walls of the openings 47 may be finished oif in a slotter or Shaper. Also.

if the cylindrical member 25 is to be made from a steel casting, the openings 47 may be cored in the customary manner and then trimmed to exact size in a shaper or slotter. After the radial openings 47 are completed, the inner ends thereof are closed so that the openings 47 are transformed to pockets or recesses 50 by inserting the tube 42 in the bore 26 of the member 25 in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The tube 42 is of such length that it extends well beyond the lower ends 51 of the openings, and fitting snugly within the lower portion of the bore 26 forms an eifec- 4tive seal to prevent leakage of fluid from the interior of the drilling string to the eX- terior thereof through the openings 47. It

- will be recognized that should it be desired to turn the' tube 42 so that it will tit loosely within the bore, any of the commonly employed sealing means may be placed between the tube 42 and the bore 26 of the cylindrical member 25.

Within the pockets 50, vertically elongated roller type reaming cutters 52 are mounted on vertical shafts or cutter pins 53 which are replaceably held in theouter portions of the pockets 50. Through the radlal walls 54 betweenthe upper ends of the pockets and theradial shoulder 37 of the member 25, ver-v tical openings 55 areformed, and in the wall portions 56 defining the lower ends 51 of the scope of the following claims.l

in concentric alignment with the openings 55. liadially through the wall portions 56 in positions to cross the lower ends of the openings v57, holes 58 are drilled, and the outer ends of the holes 58 are then filled up in a suitable manner such as by welding in bodies of metal 60, as shown in Fig. 3. Key pins 59 are inserted in the openings 58 through the lower end of the bore 26of the member 25 before the,tube A42 is installed, and these key pins 59are thereafter held in place by the lower end 62 ofthe tube 42. The cutter pins 53 are deformed at their lower ends, as by forming diametrical slots 63 therein to engage the ends 64 of the key pins 59. When the cap 33 is removed from the upper end of the member 25, the openings 55 are exposed, and the cutter pins 53 may be readily moved downwardly through the openings 55, thebores 65 of the cutters 52, and into engagement with the openings 57 at the lower ends of the pocketsv 50. Replacement of the cap 33 on the member 25 then covers the upper ends of the openings 55 and the upper ends of thecutter pins 53, holding the cutter-pins 53 in place duringthe use of the drilling or reaming equipment. The threads31 onthe pin 30 of the member 25 correspond in direction to the direction of rotation of the drill pipe; therefore, the rotative forces utilized in the operation of the device tend to tighten the cap 33 on the member 25 so that there is little po."- sibility of the cap 33 becoming disconnected from the member 25.

The vertical length of the roller cutters 52 is less than the vertical dimension of the pockets 50, leaving space between the upper ends bf the cutters 52 and the walls 54 in which polygonal, replaceable wear plates 70 are placed, these wear plates 70 each having an opening 71 therethrough, through which a cutter pin 53 may pass in the manner shown in Fig. 1. For the upward passage of drilling fluid and cuttings carried thereby, it is preferable to employ a number of vertical grooves 72 in the exterior wall of the c vlindrical member 25, these vertical grooves 72 passing vertically across the outer portions of the lar's 48 by which the pockets 50 are separate Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be employed in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially thesame results therefore, it is to be understood tha-t the invention is not to be limited tothe details disclosed herein but .is to be accorded the` full I claim as my invention V 1. A reamer of the character described, in' cluding: a body lcomprising a tubularv wall adapted to be connected' into a rotary drilling member, there being openings through said wall; an inner tube adapted to pass Within transforming said openings into outwardly vopening recesses; and roller reaming cutters rotatably mounted in said recesses.

. 2. A reamer of the character described, including: a body comprising a tubular wall adapted to be connected into a rotary drilling member, there being an opening through Y said wall; an inner tube adapted to pass within the bore of said tubular wall in a manner to close the inner end of said opening, thereby transforming said opening into an outwardly opening recess, there being'end walls at the upper and lower ends of said recess, one of said end walls having a through opening and the other of said walls having a blind opening aligned with said through opening; a bar extending across sa'id blind opening; a shaft extending through said through opening and into said blind opening, the end of said shaft having va notch engaging said bar; means for preventing outward movement of said shaft in said through opening; and a roller cutter mounted on said shaft.

3. A reamer of the character described, including: a body comprising a tubular wall adapted to be connected into a rotary drillinff member, there being an opening through sai wall; an inner tube adapted to pass within the bore of said tubular wall in a manner t0 close the'inner end of said opening, thereby transforming said opening into an outwardly opening recess, there being end walls at the upper and lower ends of said recess, one of said end walls having a through opening and the other Vof said walls having a blind open ing aligned with said through opening; a bar extending across said blind opening; a shaft extending through said through opening and into said blind opening, the end of said shaft being deformed so as to engage said bar; means for preventing outward movement of said shaft in said through opening; and a roller cutter mounted on said shaft.

4. A reamer of the character described, including: a body comprising a tubular wall adapted'to be connected into a rotary drilling member, there being an opening through said y wall; an inner tube adapted to pass within the bore of said tubular wall in a manner to close the inner end of said opening, thereby transforming said opening into an outwardly opening recess, there being end walls at the upper and lower ends of said recess, one of said end walls having a through opening and the other of said 'walls having a blind opening aligned with said through opening; a bar extending across said blind opening; a shaft extending through said through opening and into said blind opening, the end of said shaft being deformed so as to engage said bar; an annular member, secured to said body in position adjacent said end wall havingisaid through opening, for preventing outward movement of said shaftinsaid through opening; and a roller cutter mounted on said shaft.

5. A reamer of the character'described, in

cluding: a ,body comprising a tubular-,wall adapted to be connected intova rotary drilling member, there being an opening through said wall; an inner tube adapted to pass within the bore of said tubular Wall in a manner to close the inner end of said opening, thereby transforming said opening into an outwardly opening recess, there being end Walls at the upper and lower ends of said recess, one of said end walls having a through opening and theother of Asaid walls having a blind opening aligned with said through opening; a bar extending across said blind opening; a shaft extending through said through opening .and into said blind Opening, the end of said shaft being deformed so as to engage said bar; an annular member, secured to said body in position adjacent said end wall having said through o ening, for preventing outward movement of) said shaft in said through opening; a roller cutter mounted onrsaid shaft; and a thrust plate mounted on said shaftbetween an end of said roller cutter and one of said end walls of said body.

6. A reamer of the character described, including: a body comprising a tubu'lar wall adapted to be connected intoa rotary drilling member, there beingan opening through said wall; an inner tube adapted to pass Within the bore of said tubular wall in a manner to close the inner end of said opening, thereby transforming'said opening into an outwardly opening recess, there being end walls at the upper and lower ends of said recess, one of said end walls having a through opening and the other of said walls having a blind opening aligned with' said through opening; a bar extendingacross said blind openin a shaft extendin through said throug opening. and into s'ai blind opening, the end of said shaft being v adapted to be connected into a rotary drilling 0 member, there being a radial opening through said wall; a tube adapted to pass within the bore of said tubular wall in a manner to close the inner end of said'opening, thereby transforming said opening into an outwardly opening pocket ;"and a reaming cutter mounted in said pocket.l y

8. A reamer of the character described, in-

"adapted to beiconnected'intoairotary drilll ing me1nber, there being openings 'through' '""s'aid wall; V'anf inner-tube --adapted to'p'a'ss- Y within''the boieoffsaid tubular 2wall, from cluding: a body comprising a tubular wall el" "ftheprimaryend"of said tubular wall, in a i'iianner to 'close'tlieinner ends 'o ff said openf thereby' transforming said opemngs lfinto'outward-ly opemng recesses; a member securedt'of'saidfprimary end of said tubular A"wall, said member having a wall engaging said inner tube so asto preventiits removal 'from said boreA ofsaid tubular wall; and roller reaming cutters rotatably mounted in said recesses.

9. A reamer of the character described, in-

said cutter pins and an inner wall disposed 4t'oe'ngage the end of said tube; cuttersmountend walls-andsaid 7 th day of January, 1932. ANTHONY E. CARLSON. 75

cluding: a body comprising a tubular wall having a threaded pin extending from its primary end, there beingaradial shoulder formed at the inner end of said pin, and there being v 'radial openings through said wall having primary end Walls separating them from said shoulder and having secondary end walls delining their lower ends, there being throughv y openings in said primary end walls and blind openings in said secondary end walls; a tube adapted to be inserted in the bore of said tubular wall from the primary end thereof to close the inner ends of said radial openings,

, there being means for preventing movement of said tube from the secondary end of said tubular wall; cutter pins extended through said through openings in said primary end walls to said blind openings in said secondary end walls; an annular cap member screwed on'said threaded pin, having an annular wall adjacent the outer ends of said through openings for preventing outward movement of said cutter pins and'an inner wall disposed to engage the end of said tube; and cutters mounted on said cutter pins within said radial openings.

10. A reamer of the character described, including: a body comprising a tubular lwall having a threaded pin extending from its priv mary end, there being a radial shloulder formed at the inner end of said pin, and there being radialiopenings through `said wall having primary end walls separating them from said shoulder and having secondary end walls defining their lower ends, there being through openings in said primary end walls and blind openings in said secondary end walls; a tube adapted to be inserted in the bore of said tubular wall from the primary end thereof to close the inner ends of said radial openings, there being means for preventing4 movement of said tube from the secondary end of said tubular wall; cutter pins extended through' said through openings in said primary end walls to said blind openings in said secondary end walls; an annular cap memberscrewed los on said threaded pin, having an annular wall adjacent the outer ends of said through openings for preventing outward movement of 

